Reclining chair and footstool



Oct. 24, 1950 F. c. MAURER 2,526,623

RECLINING CHAIR AND FOOTSTOOL.

Filed Nov. 5, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Zmnentor F fec C. Maura/ (Ittorneg Oct. 24, 1950 F. c. MAURER RECLINING CHAIR AND FOOTSTOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet- 1 Filed Nov. 5, 1946 Inventor n m M M C d w (ItQorneg Patented Oct. 24, 1950 RECLINING CHAIR AND FOOTSTOOL Fred C. Maurer, North Lima, Ohio, assignor to The Kenmar Manufacturing Company, .East Palestine, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application November 5, 1946, Serial No. 707,899

This invention relates to chairs and more particularly to recliningchairs and the combination therewith of footstool means.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a reclining chair and footstool combination.

A further object of the inventionis the provision of a reclining chair havin a portion thereof movably positioned and forming an adjustable footstool.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a reclining chair having a footstool integrally formed therewith and adjustable with the reclining action of the said chair.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a reclining chair and a combination footstool and magazine rack pivotally and movably afiixed thereto.

The reclining chair and footstool combination shown and described herein relates generally to reclinin chairs and more particularly those in which separate base members are employed upon which the reclining chairs are positioned for tilting operation. As is known, this type of reclining chair pivots on the separate base portion and thereby causes the front section of the chair to be elevated with respect to a supporting surface at such time as the chair is tilted backwardly. It is further known that this type of reclining chair is usually commercially sold in conjunction with a footstool commercially called an Ottoman and that the footstoolis of greater than normal height so as to compensate somewhat for the elevated front-edge position of the chair at such time as it is in reclining position.

The present invention relates to an improvement in the chair and footstool combination in that the footstool is formed integrally with the chair and affixed thereto by pivotal-means and also capable of reciprocal travel with respect to the chair and particularly in and out from in under the seat cushion thereof.- The chair and footstool combination automatically provides a;

footstool, the top portion of whichwill be in the proper and most comfortable position for the use of the person sitting in the chair as it automatically rises and falls with the elevating or lowering of the front edge of the chair. a

With the foregoing and otherobjects in view which will appearas the description proceeds, the invention resides inv the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of. construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise emdi e t o the -invention he ein disclosed can 3 Claims. (Cl. 1551'70) Figure 2 is a perspective detail of the front portion of the reclining chair and footstool combination shown in Figure 1 and illustrates the footstool in retracted position.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the reclining chair and footstool with parts broken away and parts in cross section and illustrates the reclin ing chair and footstool in non-elevated position.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the reclining chair and footstool with parts broken away and;

parts in cross section and illustrates the reclining chair in elevated position.

By referring to the drawings and Figures 1 and 2 in particular it will be seen that a reclining chair is illustrated and comprises a cushioned seat portion II], a cushioned back portion I I, arms 12 and a base l3. The cushioned seat portion l0,

' the back portion II, the arms l2 and the base 13 form an integral unit having a pair of legs M at the front corners of the base iii, the whole of which is mounted for tilting or reclining movement on a secondary base l5. The secondary base 15 comprises a pair of spaced floor engaging members having arcuate slots therein in which pairs of pivots (a pair on each side of the base [3 of the chair) engage so as to control the tilting'motion of the chair with respect to the- This construction is known in the art and is illustrated in Patent No;

secondary base 15.

2,137,923, issued November 22, 1938.

In the present disclosure a chair of this general nature is combined with a footstool which comprises a frame It including a bottom spect to the frame [6 and the front'piece IS.

The cushioned top 2| is so positioned by the pairs of arms l9 and 20 that it will-rest upon the upper edge of the relatively higher front piece I8 when it is elevated and moved forward as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings.

The same pivoting action on the part ofthe' IT and having a relatively higher front piece l8 positioned thereon. The frame it has two pairs;

* of arms l9 and 20 pivoted thereto which in'turnsupport at their uppermost ends a cushioned top The cushioned top 2! is pivoted to the up- 1 permost ends of the pairs of arms [9 and 20 and is thereby capable of movement with re- I pairs of arms l9 and 20 enables the cushioned top 2| to be moved downwardly into the area defined by the frame It so that the frame It and its front piece l8 may be moved into position beneath the chair as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. In order to facilitate this movement, a pair of casters 22 are positioned beneath the forward end of the frame it.

By referring now to Figure 3 of the drawings it will be observed that the rearmost portion of the frame [6 is diagonally formed, as indicated by the numeral 23 to conform with the angular contour of the rear section of the chair base [3 when the footstool portion is in retracted position. The rear portion of the footstool is supported in the chair base [3 by means of a pair of oppositely disposed guide members 24 which define channels 25. The rear portion of the frame [6 of the footstool is provided with a pair of sidewardly extending brackets 26 which register with and slidably engage the channels 25 formed in the guides 24. As the guides 24 are attached to or formed in the base 13 of the reclining chair structure, they are subject to inclination at such time as the chair is tilted, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. Thus, the rearmost section of the footstool and that portion thereof comprising the frame and the brackets 23 are automatically elevated at such time as the brackets 26 are in engagement with the front, portions of the channels 25 in the guides 24 and the chair is elevated.

The angle of inclination and the relative positioning of the cushioned top 2| of the footstool is controlled by the relation of the footstool to the chair as well as by the pairs of arms I9 and 20 by which the cushioned top 2| is afiixed to the frame it of the footstool. It will thus be seen that several alternate positions of the cushioned top 2| and hence the usable portion of the footstool are possible due to the two factors controlling its position.

The chair, when level, as shown in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings, maintains the footstool in level position when it is retracted or extended, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings. The cushioned top 2! may be left in lower position, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, and be usable in connection with the footstool as a low footstool or cushion or it may be elevated, as shown in Fi ure 1, and moved into forward position so as to overlie the upper edge of the front piece 58 of the footstool. In this position the rearmost edge of the cushioned top 2i will lie on approximately the'same plane as the cushioned seat ii) and form, in effect, an extension thereof and thus form a comfortable lounge chair.

When the reclining chair, as an integral unit, is tilted backwardly, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, the guides 24 and the channels 2 5 are automatically inclined as they are positioned upon the inner surfaces of the base l3 of the chair and the rear portion of the footstool is automatically raised so as to maintain the relative positioning of the rear portion of the cushioned top 2| of the footstool with the cushioned seat I0 of the chair. In this connection it will be observed that a spring 28 is connected between the inner portion of the front piece [8 and the bottom of the cushioned top 2| and normally biases the cushioned top 2| into elevated relation, as shown in Figures 1 and 4 of the drawings, and tends to move the frame [6 of the footstool inwardly into the chair as the cushioned top 21 moves into overlying position with respect to the front piece [8 of the footstool.

The height of the front portion of the cushioned top 2| of the footstool is directly dependent upon the position of the frame l6 of the footstool as several alternate positions of the cushioned top 2| are possible with respect to the frame l6. Thus, many and various relative positions of the chair, and particularly its cushioned seat It] and the cushioned top 2| of the footstool, are possible so that almost every possible combination desired may be achieved.

The frame I6 of the footstool portion of the combination is adapted to maintain itself in completely extended position, as shown in Figure 4, by reason of a pair of corresponding depressions 21 formed in the front sections of the guides 24 and in the channels 25 so that the brackets '26 will register therewith when the frame [6 of the footstool is in fully extended position and thus serve to automatically maintain the full extended position until the footstool portion of the combination is deliberately moved back into retracted position in the chair.

Means are also provided on the base l3 of the chair for retaining the footstool portion of the chair, and in particular the frame I6 and bottom I! thereof, in stationary relation to the base l3 of the chair when the footstool portion is in fully retracted position therein As best shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, this means comprises a transversely positioned support member 29 which underlies the guides 24 and is positioned immediately beneath the bottom 11 of the frame l6 of the footstool portion of the combination when the footstool portion is in retracted position. Thus, when the chair is tilted and the footstool portion has been previously moved into the base, it will automatically rise with the base as an integral unit of the chair. It is only when the chair is in level position and the supporting member 29 is in inoperative position with respect to the frame It and the bottom [1 of the footstool portion of the combination, that the footstool may be readily withdrawn or extended and its action in extended position will, of course, be controlled by the elevation of the chair affecting the rearmost portion of the footstool and its foremost portion remaining in contact with the supporting surface through the caster 22.

It will be seen that when the cushioned top 2| of the footstool portion of the combination is in elevated relation with respect to the bottom I! and the frame l6 of the footstool portion, access is provided to the area defined by the frame I 6 and the bottom H which forms a convenient location for magazines, books and the like.

It will thus be seen that a novel and eflicient construction has been disclosed which combines a footstool with a reclining type chair and uti lizes the combination for determining the rela- -tive positioning of the chair and, the cushioned top of the footstool and at the same time enables a number of various positions to be achieved.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: V

1. A tilting chair and a normally hidden footstool therefor, the said tilting chair including seat and back portions movably mounted on a base and maintaining their predetermined angular relationship, a chamber formed. in the seat portion of the said chair and open at the front of the said chair and having horizontal spaced parallel guide means at each side thereof, a transverse rod positioned through the said footstool near the rear portion thereof and the rod pivotally engaging the said guide means for slidable movement with respect thereto whereby the portion of the footstool adjacent the chair will be elevated when the chair is tilted.

2. A tilting chair and a normally hidden footstool therefor, the said tilting chair including seat and back portions movably mounted on a base and maintaining their predetermined angular relationship whereby the front edge of the seat is elevated when the back is tilted rearwardly, a chamber formed in the seat portion of the chair and open at the front of the said chair and having spaced parallel guide means at each side thereof, the said footstool including a tray normally positioned in said chamber and having projections formed on the sides thereof at the 7 rear thereof pivotally engaging the said guide means for sliding movement with respect thereto so that the tray is movable out of the said seat portion, the said footstool including a vertically movable and tiltable top member, and means on said seat portion engageable beneath said tray when the same is positioned in the aid chamber.

3. A tilting chair and a footstool normally hidden therein, the said tilting chair including an integrally formed seat and back portion movably mounted on a base whereby the front edge of the seat is elevated when the back is tilted rearwiardly, a chamber formed in the seat portion of the said chair and open at the front said tray when the same is positioned in said chamber so that the entire footstool rises with the seat portion of the chair when hidden therein and when extending therefrom only the rear portion of the footstool rises when the front edge of the seat portion is elevated.

FRED C. MAURER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 11,906 Harmon Apr. 16, 1901 1,446,043 Hogan Feb. 20, 1923 2,326,910 Young Aug. 17, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 17,199 Great Britain July 14, 1893 856,489 France June 14, 1940 

